The paper is proposing a holistic framework for defining and measuring disaster resilience for a community at various scales. Seven dimensions characterizing community functionality have been identified and are represented by the acronym PEOPLES: Population and Demographics, Environmental/Ecosystem, Organized Governmental Services, Physical Infrastructure, Lifestyle and Community Competence, Economic Development, and Social-Cultural Capital. The proposed framework provides the basis for development of quantitative and qualitative models that measure continuously the functionality and resilience of communities against extreme events or disasters in any or a combination of the above-mentioned dimensions. Over the longer term, this framework will enable the development of geospatial and temporal decision-support software tools that help planners and other key decision makers and stakeholders to assess and enhance the resilience of their communities.

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